Sergey Lemeshev

[Steinway]

I was listening on YouTube to some versions of the aria Kuda Kuda from Onegin and discovered a magnificent singer who was unknown to me, a tenor from Russia by the name of Sergey Lemeshev.

He appears on YouTube singing a number of arias and completely astonished me with his vocal skills.

What an unexpected treat to find this gem.

Anyone who doesn't know him should take the time to listen to him.

[John F]

Lemeshev was indeed an outstanding tenor, and he recorded quite a few complete operas for the Soviet national recording company. One of these is "Eugene Onegin," and its outstanding cast includes Galina Vishnevskaya as Tatiana, Eugene Belov as Onegin, Ivan Petrov as Gremin, and forces of the Bolshoi Opera conducted by Boris Khaikin. I haven't heard a recording or performance of the opera to equal this, and it's available from amazon.com on at least two labels for a very low price.

[stenka razin]

Lemeshev was indeed an outstanding tenor, and he recorded quite a few complete operas for the Soviet national recording company. One of these is "Eugene Onegin," and its outstanding cast includes Galina Vishnevskaya as Tatiana, Eugene Belov as Onegin, Ivan Petrov as Gremin, and forces of the Bolshoi Opera conducted by Boris Khaikin. I haven't heard a recording or performance of the opera to equal this, and it's available from amazon.com on at least two labels for a very low price.

I second John's recommendation.

Regards,
Mel

[Lance]

I certainly aware of the great voice of Lemeshev. I don't believe I have anything of him on compact disc, however, just LP. What CDs would you recommend?

[John F]

I have very few CDs and none of old-school Russian opera recordings. Instead there are row on row of export Melodiya LP sets. He's in a very good Bolshoi "Prince Igor" from the early '50s but that's an opera for the lower voices and the tenor role isn't very big. While I was at it, I picked up some standard repertoire, including "La Boheme" (in Russian) which is on CD, with Lemeshev and Lisitsian but the sopranos rather spoil it. Lemeshev made many LPs of songs, but I don't remember which I have (I'm not at home just now) or whether I liked them. Also LPs of opera arias and selections which I didn't get.